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‘It was 100% real’: Jeff Gordon on his rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr.<\/p>\n
NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon takes us inside his rivalry with Dale Earnhardt Sr.<\/p>\n
Sports Seriously<\/p>\n
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs<\/a> have arrived as 16 drivers begin their chase for the 2025 championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 10-race playoffs kick off Sunday, Aug. 31 at Darlington Raceway<\/a>, where drivers will seek to conquer the track known as \u201cToo Tough to Tame.\u201d The primetime race will be a test of skill and endurance, and a constant battle between playing it safe and utilizing the high line to go for broke with mere inches separating the car from the outside walls.<\/p>\n A victory today by any of the 16 playoff drivers guarantees automatic advancement into the Round of 12, but points will also be at a premium as the championship contenders strive to remain above the cut line with the first elimination race just two weeks away.<\/p>\n NASCAR PLAYOFFS: Points, standings, 10-race schedule for 2025<\/a><\/p>\n But the playoff drivers won\u2019t be racing alone. They will still have to contend with the rest of the field, and those racers will be just as hungry to take the checkered flag and celebrate in victory lane.<\/p>\n USA TODAY Sports<\/a> will have full coverage of the Cook Out Southern 500<\/a> in Darlington, South Carolina. Follow along for live updates and highlights of the action.<\/p>\n After losing the lead on the restart to begin Stage 2, Chase Briscoe accelerated past Denny Hamlin seven laps later to surge back to the front in the Cook Out Southern 500. Briscoe led 85 laps to win the opening stage.<\/p>\n Denny Hamlin beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe on a restart to open Stage 2 of the Cook Out Southern 500 on Lap 126 of 267. Hamlin has five career victories at Darlington Raceway, the most among active drivers.<\/p>\n Chase Briscoe, who started second, took the lead on the opening lap and led 85 of 115 laps in the first stage to score 10 stage points. Tyler Reddick finished second, and pole sitter Denny Hamlin third, as Toyota drivers swept the top three spots.<\/p>\n Ross Chastain, in a Cheverolet, finished fourth and Bubba Wallace in a Toyota finished fifth. Kyle Larson (Chevrolet), Christopher Bell (Toyota), Austin Cindric (Ford), John Hunter Nemechek (Toyota) and Ryan Blaney (Ford) rounded out the top 10.<\/p>\n All of the drivers in the top 10 minus Nemechek are in the playoffs.<\/p>\n Chase Briscoe, who has led nearly every lap of this opening stage, came down pit road for fuel and tires on Lap 75 during a wave of green-flag pit stops. These pit stops mark the second of two under green during the first stage, which is scheduled for 115 laps.<\/p>\n Chase Briscoe, who has led every lap of the Cook Out Southern 500 so far, led a wave of drivers down pit road for green-flag pit stops. The opening stage is 115 laps, and the race is scheduled for 367 laps.<\/p>\n Josh Berry got loose and careened into Tyler Reddick before slamming the back of his No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford into the outside wall on the first lap of the race. Reddick was just able to save his No. 45 Toyota from hitting the wall, but Berry’s vehicle suffered major damage, and he was forced to drive it back to the garage for repairs.<\/p>\n Chase Briscoe, who started second, was able to grab the lead from pole sitter Denny Hamlin on that first lap and maintained it on the restart.<\/p>\n How to watch NASCAR race today: Cook Out Southern 500 at DarlingtonDate:\u00a0Sunday, Aug. 31Time:\u00a07:30 p.m. ETTV:\u00a0USA NetworkStreaming:\u00a0Peacock<\/a>, HBO Max,\u00a0Sling TV<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fubo<\/a>, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.Location:\u00a0Darlington Raceway<\/p>\n Stream the NASCAR race at Darlingon on Fubo<\/a><\/p>\n Here are the reset NASCAR standings entering the first playoff race at Darlington Raceway, with points and number of wins in parentheses:<\/p>\n Kyle Larson (3)….. 2,032William Byron (2) ….. 2,032Denny Hamlin (4) ….. 2,029Ryan Blaney (2) ….. 2,026Christopher Bell (3) ….. 2,023Shane van Gisbergen (4) ….. 2,022Chase Elliott (1) ….. 2,013Chase Briscoe (1) ….. 2,010Bubba Wallace (1) ….. 2,008Austin Cindric (1) ….. 2,008Ross Chastain (1) ….. 2,007Joey Logano (1) ….. 2,007Josh Berry (1) ….. 2,006Tyler Reddick (0) ….. 2,006Austin Dillon (1) ….. 2,005Alex Bowman (0) ….. 2,002<\/p>\n Denny Hamlin, who has won four times this season and has five career victories at Darlington Raceway to lead all active drivers, will start on pole in the Cook Out Southern 500 in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. His JGR teammate Chase Briscoe, also a playoff driver, will start alongside Hamlin on the front frow.<\/p>\n Drivers, crew members and fans alike couldn’t have asked for better conditions for the Cook Out Southern 500. The Weather Channel is calling for<\/a> sunny skies and temperatures right around 80 degrees when the green flag drops. After the sun goes down, skies will remain clear, and temperatures will fall into the 70s and perhaps high 60s for the checkered flag. Precipitation will not be a factor at all tonight.<\/p>\n What is the lineup for NASCAR playoff race at Darlington?<\/p>\n Here is the lineup for tonight’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (car number in parentheses; P=playoff driver):<\/p>\n (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota(19) Chase Briscoe (P), Toyota(21) Josh Berry (P), Ford(45) Tyler Reddick (P), Toyota(5) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet(1) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet(20) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota(23) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota(3) Austin Dillon (P), Chevrolet(2) Austin Cindric (P), Ford(24) William Byron (P), Chevrolet(12) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet(22) Joey Logano (P), Ford(17) Chris Buescher, Ford(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota(99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet(41) Cole Custer, Ford(43) Erik Jones, Toyota(88) Shane Van Gisbergen (P), Chevrolet(9) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet(16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet(38) Zane Smith, Ford(71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet(60) Ryan Preece, Ford(34) Todd Gilliland, Ford(48) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet(42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota(10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford(35) Riley Herbst, Toyota(4) Noah Gragson, Ford(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet(51) Cody Ware, Ford(44) Derek Kraus, Chevrolet(66) Timmy Hill, Ford<\/p>\n The Cook Out Southern 500 is 367 laps around the 1.366-mile track for a total of 501.32 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) \u2014 Stage 1: 115\u00a0laps;\u00a0Stage 2: 115\u00a0laps; Stage 3: 137\u00a0laps.<\/p>\n William Byron led 246 of 297 laps in the Goodyear 400 at Darlington on April 6, 2025, but the Hendrick Motorsports driver did not walk away with the tropy. Denny Hamlin powered through following a late-race caution to score the overtime victory, his second of four wins this season.<\/p>\n Here are the favorites to win the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, according to BetMGM odds (as of afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 31):<\/p>\n Denny Hamlin +475Kyle Larson +500William Byron +650Tyler Reddick +700Ryan Blaney +750Christopher Bell +900Chase Briscoe +900Ross Chastain +1600Josh Berry +1800Bubba Wallace +2200Joey Logano +2200Chase Elliott +2500What time does the NASCAR playoff race at Darlington start?<\/p>\n The Cook Out Southern 500 is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.<\/p>\n The Cook Out Southern 500 will be broadcast on USA Network, the channel for most of the Cup Series playoffs. Pre-race coverage will start at 5:30 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Yes, the Cook Out Southern 500 will be streamed on\u00a0Peacock<\/a>, HBO Max,\u00a0Sling TV<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Fubo<\/a>, which is offering a free trial to new subscribers.<\/p>\n